Can Rhaena Replace Nettles In House Of The Dragon? Why Was Nettles Cut? | Analysis & Breakdown

[@matthewnicholls3258]

It’s kinda weird we never got a scene of the vale guards searching for her and the lady of the vale looking concerned if she will be blamed for her disappearance

[@havok6280]

The problem with having Mysaria work against the Dragon seeds is on the show is that it was her idea. In the book, it was all Jace.

[@corvega_joe]

Funny how the one actual black chick in the book has been cut from the show.

[@iSnipeJoe]

They already checked the diversity boxes by swapping the velaryons skin color , nettles ain’t needed now 🥴

[@midasthestallion4105]

@@iSnipeJoe Yes she is. She's one of the key reasons why Daeon and Rhaenyra don't see eye to eye and why he stops being in her corner. She also represents the last bit of humanity that Daemon has when he is willing to die for her and lets her escape. it's also one of the key things that drives home how much of a crappy ruler (and person) Rhaenyra is. If they leave her out, that would be hella annoying imo.

[@justinrolfe5396]

Came here to say this…frustrating

[@ShadeStormXD]

​@@midasthestallion4105methinks he's being sarcastic

[@iSnipeJoe]

@@midasthestallion4105 I don’t think you understand my comment…

[@georgemoralezii6529]

So if Rhaenyra ordered Nettles execution cause she is a dragon seed, because she does not trust dragon seeds for the betrayal of Tumblton, they have written themselves into a box. Rhaena is Daemons daughter and therefore is not a dragon seed.

[@fabianheilbron9988]

Not necessarily. The time in the book where Daemon got close to Nettles, and some pointed out that he was treating her like a daughter, instead transitions to his actual daughter, that Nyra would try to kill due to paranoia/power tripping/ potential blame over her children’s misfortune. Hence her ordering her death, Daemon finding out, telling his daughter to escape, and then heading to his guaranteed death later on. He would lose faith in his wife, but since he can’t bring himself to betray her, he leaves to insure his family’s safety (by getting rid of a threat).

[@GeeNoniGee]

​@@fabianheilbron9988Yes! Exactly this!!

[@Mr-Rinn]

With regards to Rhaenyra losing trust in the Dragonseeds that can be shifted to Ulf, but I think it’s going to shift onto Adam, he’s who she trusts most among the Dragonseeds and she doesn’t know he’s Corlys’ bastard.

[@thedragondemands5186]

Two weeks ago I'd have said Condal still wants to put Nettles in, because we found the deleted scene that he wanted Cregan to come south in episode 8 -- that if Season 3 got ten episodes they might put her back in. Now I'm not so sure, and it may have ALWAYS been Condal's intention to cut her....or perhaps not. We don't know. What I do know is that we need ten episodes for all the other characters like Cregan.

[@Hochspitz]

I agree with you but HBO no longer really has a say and therefore neither does Condal. Casual viewers, it seems, found S1's pacing confusing, S2's mostly boring. So the show is going to lose both casual and book readers with short seasons that end up making no sense.

[@TurquoiseStar17]

House of the Dragon without Nettles feels like Game of Thrones cutting Arianne Martell (no wonder the Dorne plot was a mess).

[@cajuntexas9777]

show directors are all about diversity yet they cancel the only main black character in the books😂

[@amorojaz27]

They haven't cancelled her, she's been on the show the whole time.

[@evelynd898]

Honestly, I wouldn't be all that surprised if the show just outright calls Sheepstealer "Morning" and since we haven't had much of a closer look at the dragon... it's possible that it's just covered in dirt & mud (being an unridden, unkempt, wild beast), with it actually being more of a pink color under all that muck (for those who haven't read Fire & Blood... Morning was a pink dragon Rhaena hatched near the end of the war). I mean... if they're merging Rhaena and Nettles... it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume they might try to do the same for Morning and Sheepstealer.

[@lutilda]

My theory is that GRRM didn't like the change but Condal disagreed. So Condal still set it up, but stopped short of making it happen so that he could walk it back after seeing fan reactions. Because GRRM is VERY upset about HotD & it has to do with dragons & "not legitimate changes" to a story. So it definitely seems to be about Nettles. So hopefully Condal will change things and put them back on track.

[@kingblast4467]

To be honest, I do think they can make the Nettles Rhaena swap work if they take advantage of what’s happened in season 2. Remember, Rhaena basically ditched the job Rhaenyra gave her to go claim Sheepstealer, which will lead to Viserys disappearing and being assumed dead. Then, if Rhaena fights in the Gullet like Nettles did, then we could have a grieving Rhaenyra blaming Rhaena for the deaths of two of her kids, leading to her rising paranoia.

[@gribbin7889]

100% agree. I also think for an on-screen adaptation, the writers have more to work with by using Rhaena in terms of Daemons storyline. They’ve made a point that he always paid more attention to Baela while they were little

[@thaneofwhiterun3562]

Ok, that makes sense and is alright. However, let's state it plainly. If they do this we're ditching any pretensions that this show is an adaptation of the book. Which, I mean, might as well.

[@juliusfishman7222]

Lol that happended long ago with all the messy scenes ​@thaneofwhiterun3562

[@Evrgreens11]

And completely ignore the coolest aspect of the Nettles character: the above to dragonbond without being a targaryen. In the books nettles has no targ features (as they are all white) and it makes sense to assume she is far removed from the targ bloodline. So the ability for this person to dragonbond with a giant dragon (sheepstealer is among the larger dragons) is awesome and would have been a great thing to see onscreen. Not a fan of the whole daemon relationship stuff tho

[@juliusfishman7222]

@Evrgreens11 technically it's assumed she has some valyrian blood , we know vakyrian blood can be enough without having the valyrian features. She's probably the granddaughter of some valyrian bustard which just enough blood to get a dragon

[@kevmey6]

Nettles was clearly cut out and the aspects of her story being given to Rhaena and Alys Rivers

[@reginaldamoah8608]

I think Rhanera will still blame Reyna for not not staying with the children as instructed.

[@LobsterLiberator]

100% agree. Rhaena was supposed to safeguard the children. After what happens to them Rhaenrya will never forgive Rhaena. That’s where the conflict between the two will come from.

[@amorojaz27]

@@reginaldamoah8608 it's a much better reason for Rhaenyra to order her death than petty jealousy.

[@canadianwinterpeg6310]

Daemon will not betray Rhaenyra again in the show. I find it doubtful he will have anymore love affairs. I think they substituted the romance between Daemon and Nettles with the white worm and Rhaenyra romance.

[@svenskhund3603]

Why would Mysaria convince Rhaenyra that the dragonseeds are traitors when it was her idea to use lowborns in the first place, while Jace wanted to use nobles with targaryen blood tied by an oath of fealty?

[@GeeNoniGee]

Because she's Team Smallfolk, and wants to see the end of the Targaryen line for personal reasons?

[@lutilda]

I think for both the fans and George: major changes such as combining two characters into one (and thus changing both of their stories & everyone involved) is a red flag because that led to some of the worst outcomes in GoT. The writers are on thin ice because we won't give the benefit of the doubt much more due to that.

[@stormerjc9493]

I'm thinking that mabye that will have aemond and vhagar kill rhaena and sheepstealer while he's rampaging through the river lands and this will help push deamon over the edge to do a 1v1 Suicide run at vhager, plus it might be cool to have rhaena be forced to fight her mother's dragon and the dragon she wanted to claim herself before aemond took her, that's the best way to tie things up I think

[@GeeNoniGee]

That's cool!

[@JoseGonzalez-pn5zl]

Great video appreciate the work you putting in to these long videos. I’ve been wondering about this topic myself. If anything this past season showed us their stuff that work and doesn’t. As you said there on thin ice so only time will tell how these change work..

[@static3z]

all they have to do is have her call the dragon morning and have people accuse them of having an affair, not too crazy bc of the idea of the Targaryens and Daemon himself. Rhanerya can still just feel mistrust on top of stressed from war

[@ForzaMara]

I'll only accept this change if they use it to make Daemon and Rhaena develop a bond. The set up is there. Her inferiority complex in season one. And Laena asking Daemon in one of his visions, if he's looked after their daughters. My only worry is Hess not being too fond of Daemon. Did she cut that hugging scene because it was leading somewhere? Or did she do it to make him even more hated? We can only hope it's the former.

[@Unknown31212]

With the turmoil behind the scenes with the suits, i doubt they show runners will be able to adapt it well, but we will see

[@thomasleonardis711]

Rhaenyra may blame Rhaena for the death of Viserys. She was supposed to be there guardian and abandoned the boys to chase a dragon. When Rhaenyra learns nettles is Rhaena that could trigger her anger towards the girl.

[@jacksonwrede3652]

My crazy prediction for season 3 is we see a Rhaenyra Daemon Mysaria manage a trois

[@Evrgreens11]

If they waste screen time for that… you might end up being right, which is very likely unfortunately

[@jasperjon5931]

Rhaenyra can sure get angry with her for abandoning her cub. For sure.

[@lindaisobel8829]

There are talks that rhaenyra could blame rhaena for the death of jace and the loss of viserys after the gullet since she left aegon and viserys to claim sheepstealer and that this would cause friction between rhaenyra and daemon since daemon will defend rhaena. I am not sure if rhaenyra blaming her would lead to rhaenyra ordering rhaena’s execution though because as you said it’s not in line with both their characterizations. While nettles is a stranger rhaena is her step daughter whom she clearly cared for and rhaenyra in the show is way more forgiving.

[@Belisaur]

Nettles is a tool to highlight Rhaenera as a old jealous hag, The HOTD Showrunners are in love with her so will do anything to avoid giving her character this sort of complexity

[@LoveMera_x]

That’s literally it

[@amorojaz27]

@@Belisaur or the writers have decided to give Daemon better reason to disobey Rhaenyra's orders other than protecting a side -piece.

[@apacalypsagon3758]

Rhaena was more inclined to run into a moon brother than sheepstealer. Not to mention her just shirking her duty to rhaenyra's kids over some sense of wanting to fight is just sense less. Would've loved to see her get blue balled to see nettles claiming sheepstealer. Sucks because shes my favorite of daemon's twins

[@kb4903]

How do you track a creature that flies? lol oh and through mountains haha.

[@alexmartin3143]

How exactly was she gonna protect her brothers without a dragon? No, stop, you bunch of meanies. Don’t take my brothers. If only i had a dragon…

[@apacalypsagon3758]

@@alexmartin3143 sounds like swatting a fly with a flamethrower. This is what they have servants for.

[@kurimouk1267]

I genuily think that Condal will be back tracking after seeing the reaction of the fans (I believe it was the same with Daeron in s1 - if people were not asking to see him, he probably would have never been in the show)

[@luckytm5916]

The worst change. No morning? No nettles?

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

1st to take the Black for House Blackfyre 🗡 I get that.They're probably trying to have less characters but Nettles is just so cool and it doesn't fut all the way.I hope she just pops up in season 3😄

[@gustavoadolfomorenoyanes4514]

RIP Morning and Nettles

[@benabroad8872]

I believe the story in the book is significantly better and every change they make is kind of convoluted. I’m confident in saying that casual fans would enjoy the show better if they stuck to the books.

[@amorojaz27]

@@benabroad8872 GRRM gave the showrunners free range to make all of these changes by writing Fire and Blood the way he did. At least some of this is his fault.

[@tajaemartin2251]

Nettles wasnt really needed because in the show they not making daemon and rhaenyra split up

[@lutilda]

If anything, I think it would be better to remove Nettles completely and leave Rhaena's story as it is. The biggest issues arise when you combine them.

[@Aaron_Guest]

This is stupid.

[@dyent]

It's not known whether Daemon and Nettles were a couple. In the book some people think they're lovers but some think shes his bastard daughter. Of course, he's Targaryan, so both could be true at the same time....

[@tajaemartin2251]

@@Aaron_Guest how is it stupid? You cant read? Nettles was someone who made a rift between daemon and rhaenyra in the books , the show not doing that why they wont add nettles

[@tajaemartin2251]

@@dyent thats why they add rhaena , its to make daemon close with his daughters again and be a father

[@tajaemartin2251]

Thanks for the video

[@ELFBOYMUSIC]

Love your content bruh.

[@jeffcordova9633]

For the watch & the lord commander!! For brother Bittersteel!!! This is one change that angered me.. nettles is a big part of this story & history

[@lawrencereid2767]

🖤

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

It is a upsetting change.

[@lawrencereid2767]

​@@aegorbittersteel2154I agree budget tho

[@aegorbittersteel2154]

@@lawrencereid2767 true

[@jeffcordova9633]

@@lawrencereid2767 yeah that budget factor really had a huge factor

[@Hochspitz]

All Rhaena did during S2 was to mostly run around the Vale with seemingly no one noticing she was missing. Whilst so many conversations in S2 were really good, along with the slow introduction of the dragon seeds, the "growth" of Daemon's character only to crush that idea by showing him that his future is ordained and he has no free will at all! Leaving Nettles out is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Yes, I understand that HBO's parent company has severely restricted what HOTD can do which may or may not affect Dunk & Egg (certainly the cost won't be as great because there aren't any dragons) but that story, like ASOIAF is not finished and never will be, so that story is going nowhere! One way or another Warner Bros has cooked the golden goose that was feeding it and I have lost interest.

[@amorojaz27]

@@Hochspitz so you're upset Daemon won't be able to groom another teenage girl? People in this fandom have weird priorities.

[@joseSanchez-ej2oh]

Nettles is a young Leaf/Old Nan in disguise Its a long theory but the simplest hint is her name, with Nettles being a leaf

[@ClearAutumnFestival]

It’s unfortunate they fired the s1 lead writer. He was far better than the s2 clown.

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

Looks like GoT crashing terribly is back on the menu, boys!

[@connorhudock1950]

They could never make their relationship platonic, because it makes Rhaenera lok bad

[@1992zorro]

Basically with this logic, you can remove a lot of more characters. You can place a lot of these characteristics to other characters. It's called nitpicking

[@lawrencereid2767]

🏰🖤

[@ayiza8511]

its severely disappointing but if they can give rhena an interesting storyline that is wholly hers then yes, she obvious can´t have Nettels storyline. Rhena is timid and really unknown. Really hope they create some conflict whit Rheanyra since she just dished her sons

[@tajaemartin2251]

I ok with it tbh also mysaria can fill nettles role

[@Mactrizel]

Just like young griff

[@lysa88]

Toxic butterflies 🦋

[@holtimt]

Ngl I'm pretty happy she was cut, always figured Daemon's arc would be much better without her.

[@stivensremarais5878]

They just didn’t have time to build her character, not enough time for her character development, unlike the other dragon seeds she lives.

[@ryanelliott71698]

I really hope removing Nettles isn’t done to make the greens more sympathetic. Cause honestly tbh by the end of the dance in the books it’s less who’s right and wrong for the iron throne and more who’s your favourite war criminal.

[@Rebel_Lord_Taron]

Abso- God damn-lutely Not!!

[@juliusfishman7222]

Let side characters be side characters its not that hard

[@markgrace3247]

Nettles didn't really do much more than recruit a dragon and be around Daemon.

[@alejandrosastoque1143]

They gave damon at harrenhall hours and hours of screentime when in the books it isnt even mentioned what he did there but they cut one of the few dragonriders in the show, daemon's potential lover/daughter. Also rhaenyra ordering the arest of nettles seems to be the whole reason daemon goes on his suicide mission after vhagar. Nettles had a huge role in the story.

[@lilchaos9212]

The point of her character is to show Daemon's tendency to go after an underaged girl after losing interest in his wife once she birthed him multiple children (Laena and Rhaenyra) and challenged the idea of Targaryen supremacy with being the only ones who could ride dragons.

[@RTC922]

no and as much as i love this season, removing nettles is why daemon's arc, was not well received, and this removal, is gonna offset certain events. rhaena was ever invlved in the war and sheepstealer never died, are they gonna kill this dragon off? what about rhaena's real dragon, are they gonna cut that part? the closeness between nettles and daemon, the fact that daemon cheated on rhaenyra with nettles, how are they gonna explain daemon suddenly liking rhaena more? i am ok with every other change EXCEPT this 1. the thing is, they complicated a story that never needed to be, thats y i hate that they removed netles.

[@Themystergamerr]

I think they decided they didn't want another black character, simple

[@skipklauber1162]

The writers were actuated by cowardice and woke small mindedness. They cannot put in a foul mouthed, unattractive, but fascinating Black girl

[@m.a.8209]

omggg shut uuuup

[@skipklauber1162]

@@m.a.8209 That is non responsive. Grow a backbone

[@YouTubeShillApologist]

3eyed raven gave Daemon the GOT script so no need for Nettles anymore. Sara Hess is the new Kathleen Kennedy

[@1992zorro]

Hate that woman so much ! We could all see where this would end up to